Amidst chaos in health sector

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has sought President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s intervention to reach a consensus on a new salary structure, according to the President’ Office.The meeting took place amidst a rapid deterioration of the public health sector, plagued with severe shortage of medicine and equipment and with some hospitals even facing power cuts, due to the Health Ministry’s inability to settle electricity bills.

The GMOA has requested the President’s attention, in this regard, when new office-bearers of the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), elected for 2023 and 2024, met him at the Presidential Secretariat.

According to the PMD, the GMOA representatives stressed the need for the introduction of a new salary structure, based on market value and performance, the revision of the salaries of doctors undergoing internship training to prevent brain drain, and the revision of allowances for doctors. A proposal, in this regard, was also presented to the President.President Wickremesinghe, who explained reforms to be carried out in the health sector, requested the GMOA to submit proposals in this regard as well.

The President pointed out the need to implement these new reforms, through short-term and medium-term plans, and the importance of studying the advanced health systems of Scandinavian and European countries in preparing those plans.

The new officers led by President of the GMOA Dr. Darshana Sirisena, Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge, Vice Presidents Dr. Chandika Epitakaduwa, Dr. Hemantha Rajapaksa, Dr. Bodhika Samarasekera, and Dr. S. Mathivanan were present at this meeting.